Closure or sealing means for paper or cardboard receptacles



. June 27, 1944. w RCUS I 2,352,559-

CLOSURE OR SEALING MEANS FOR PAPER OR CARDBOARD RECEPTACLES Filed April 29, 1942 l I I8 15 [5 5 3 2/ A/Z6 I 20 I7 I70- )7 17a IN VEN TORS WILLIAM MARCUS.

0- V ALBERT BAUM.

Patented June 27, 1944 PAPER 7 OR CARDBOARD REGEPTACLES William Marcus, New York, and Albert Baum," Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 29, 1942, serial No. 440,966,

2C'laims. (o1. 2 2a s4) Th s invention relates to closure or sealing means for paper-sheet envelopes, cardboard boxes, or similar receptacles made from substantially bendable and somewhat flexible material.

It is an object of the present invention to provide locking or sealing means for receptacles of the aforesaid nature which permits easy handling and operation thereof and complies with many requirements for protecting and preventing such receptacle from being opened by vunauthorized persons.

It is another object of the present invention to,;provide very useful. and efficient sealing or locking means which, although simple in construction, is inexpensive to manufacture and forms preferablyan integralpart of the receptacle. I I 7 Still ano her object-of the present invention is to provide locking or'sealing means of the above-type which is devoid of any gummed or adhesive portions and is so constructed that when manipulated into'locking position-said means cooperates withan opening or slot provided in said receptacle whereby said sealing means is absolutely prevented frombeingremoved from a said slot without being destroyed, during reopening ofthe receptacle.

A further object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a relatively flexible flap forming part of said sealing means, said sealing means being similar in function to that of a barb orfishhook;

These and other objects and advantages .of the invention will appear fromthe following disclosure; thereof together with the attached drawing which illustratescertain forms of embodiments thereof. These forms are shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understod that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a letter-envelope provided with sealing means made in. accordance with the invention.

Figs. 2 to 5 illustrate respective steps in performing closing or locking operation with looking means, shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows the letter-envelope of Fig. 1 in locked condition.

Fig. '7 shows a letter-envelope with modified sealing means. v

In that form of-the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 ted, a blank sheet of paper It]v of substantially rectangularshapeis shown having sealing meansll comprisinga-tongue member l2 provided with a head havinglateral projections l3, l4 and further provided with outer edgesdownwardly converging toward said tongue-member and terminating intonotches; l3a..and. Ma'for a purpose hereinafter described. As.--it can be well seen from the drawing tongue l-2. extends beyond an edge of blanksheet I 0, the latter being rovided with score lines or creases indicated at IS-45a, .l 6l6a,. l1..l1a.-and-l8l8a.. .Opposite tongue l2 and adjacent edge 22- oppositesaid aforesaid one edge; andwithin the. boundariesv of blank l0, there is provider slot I9-havinga length corresponding to thewidth of tongue .12.

-Let- -it.-.be-.assumed, that the. space of blanklfl has; been. usedfor correspondence,- the blanlcis thenbeing closed by firstfolding the paper-blank about-score lines 15-450. and I6?I6a. whereby a letter shape is obtained showingedges. zlland 2| of theblank in abutting relation, .as. .plearly depicted in Fig. 2; thereafter the blank ,is .folded over about score lineflwlla..whereby slot lil.is brought up toaposition, .asshownin Fig.:3-,.- It will be observed that edge .onend. 22 .of ,theblank extends substantially-to.scoreline l8-.,l8d,.. T I

Fig. 4 showsasadurther st'ageor-step,of..the folding operation tongue l2 with lateral .eXten sions orprojecting members 3,..l 4.. .folded over scoreline l.8.l8d. ther eby providingra flap-per: tion 23 which:.comes .to Jieoversaid edgefZZ when the thus formed letter-envelopegis being finally closed. V 1

In order to seal the letter-envelope, one of the projecting members l3 or M is inserted and slidably moved in the direction of arrow 24 into slot l9 (Fig. 4) and then somewhat turned and swung further (arrow 25) until the other of said projecting members clears slot l9 and may be forced to pass through said slot l9.

It is well understood that proportions and size of slot l9 and tongue member l2 are so chosen, that projections l3, l4 may be-threaded through said slot without being damaged. Fig. 6 shows the positionof sealing or locking means I I after insertion thereof within slot [9. It will be thus realized that opening of the letter-envelope necessitates tearing off of any of the sealing means ll or'damage of slot 19. Notches' l-3a and. Ma provide weakening areas or points at sealing means H facilitating the tearing off of either or V both projections I3, l4 when manipulated for opening the letter-envelope or like receptacle.

As hereinabove mentioned, when flap portion 23 is folded over edge 22 (Fig. 5) projecting members I3, l4 of sealing means II are inserted through slot 19, the concealing of correspondence written on the inside 26 of blank I0 is brought about, although the letter-envelope or like receptacle gives the appearance of being open at the sides thereof.

In some instances it might be useful to use va finger or knife-like instrument to perform the insertion of projecting members I3, 14 into slot l9.

It is further to be noted that flap 23 may have While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the above embodiments, it will be understood that various admissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Let-. ters Patent, is:

any other form than that shown in the drawing.

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the embodiment of the invention illustrating a letter-envelope or receptacle 30 with extension member sealing or locking means 3| comprising tongue member 32 and projections 33 and 34. It will be noted that projection 33 is somewhat shorter than projection 34, however, the operation of said locking means 3| is similar to that of locking member ll (Fig. 4). The insertion of projection 33 through slot 35 is accomplished relatively easier than hereinabove set forth. After the projection 33 has been slipped through slot 35, tongue 32 may be so manipulated that projection 33 first moves in the direction of arrow 35 whereupon the projection 34 is being introduced into slot 35. After the insertion of projections 33 and 34, the tongue 32 redirects the projections 33 and 34 to a position as shown in Fig. '7, whereby a fishhook orbarb effect is obtained; so that no tampering or'opening of theletter-envelope may take place without tearing ofi oneor both of said projections 33, 3 4.

It iswell 'un'derstood that'the letter-envelope canbe constructedwith one or more locking members I! or 3l and that the invention may be applied to any kind of; paper receptacle, thus providing a perfect closure and sealing of the receptacle without the provision of any adhesive or ummed means.

In order to facilitate manipulation of the tongue member during closing operation, the ends of the slot maybe shaped somewhat arcuate, thus effectivelypreventing accidental damage of the slot when "introducing into said slot the aforesaid projecting members or extensions.

In both instances illustratedi liigs. 1 and '7. the lengthof theextremityof locking means ll or 3| isgreater than the width'of slot or'oneninglB or 35,however, tonguemember [2hr 32 is firmly eld in position in said slotbetween the walls of -:the latter,-

1. In a paper receptacle or the like having sealing means forming part of a blank from which said receptacle is manufactured; a flap forming part of said blank to close the receptacle, a tongue member extending from said flap and adapted for engagement with a slot provided in said blank and being of a width substantially corresponding to the length of said slot, lateral extensions of different lengths projecting from said tongue memher, and notches positioned, respectively, between said extensions and said tongue member proper, said tongue member being adapted to engage said slot upon introducing the longer of said extensions first into said slot whereby said tongue member may be manipulated so that the shorter extension enters said slot thereafter and the tongue member is then fixed in position in said slot and extends therewithout to finally seal said closed receptacle.

2. A sealable paperreceptacle or like article comprising a substantially rectangular blank, a tongue member including a head, said head being provided with lateral projections having outer edges downwardly converging toward said tongue member, said tongue member and head being integral with said blank and centrally extending from one edge of said blank, said blank being provided with a slot adjacent another edge of said blank positioned opposite to said one edge, the length of said slot corresponding to the width of said tongue member and being smaller than the width of said head at its extremity, scores provided on said blank whereby said blank may be folded to closing position, and a flap formed between said one edge of said blank and a score within the boundaries of said blank and spaced from said one edge, whereby said flap inclosing position of said receptacle overlies the other edge of said receptacle, said head and said projections being only successively insertable in said slot, whereby said tongue member is firmly held in position in said slotby the walls of the latter;

WILLIAM MARCUS.

ALBERT BAUM; 

